Festival Details

Dates

Prices

With 54 events during 12 days featuring over 150 performers, the Belfast Comedy Festival is not limited to stand-up comedy and strives to challenge, inspire and inform through clowning, cabaret, workshops, seminars, film, bus tours, club nights, and events for children.

Critically acclaimed comedians such as Daniel Sloss, Ardal O’Hanlon, Sara Pascoe and Diane Morgan will appear in venues across the city from September 23 - October 4. Leading local comic talent such as Tim McGarry, Nuala McKeever, Paul Currie and Neil Dougan will also feature in the packed programme.

The festival will also showcase a number of clowning performances, including the US cult artist Red Bastard who will be appearing in Northern Ireland for the first time.

A new addition to the festival this year is a Fringe Hub where eight acts take over a city centre office building for two nights to present a variety programme – Accidental Belly Laughs. The festival will also showcase the city’s comedy clubs and the range of exciting local comedians.

A special event Funny Women will feature the talents of local female artists and a fundraiser for the Welcome Organisation will involve a number of performances from people who have experienced homelessness. The ever popular Comedy Bus Tour runs again allowing both residents and visitors the chance to enjoy an alternative view of Belfast with leading Belfast comedian Paddy McDonnell showing the funnier side of the city’s sights with a few surprises along the way.

Local sketch group Those Who Can’t will also perform their new show and we have a ‘Wild West’ themed cabaret show in association with Laughter Shed comedy productions. The wonderful tenx9 will showcase the best comic stories from their recent events and a series of iconic comedy films will be screened during lunchtime in the city centre.

Add to this mix a conference on the state of comedy industry; a debate on comedy and free expression; kids comedy events; workshops on comedy writing and improv, and even some Laughter Yoga, then you have the ingredients for one of the quirkiest and most diverse arts festivals in the city.